Maniac (1980)
Low-budget horror from lead actor Joe Spinell (who also co-wrote and co-produced), and director William Lustig. Frank Zito (Spinell) is a blue-collar guy living in NYC. As a child his prostitute mother regularly locked him in a closet whilst she was 'entertaining', and generally psychologically abused him. Although she died several years ago, Frank has unresolved 'mommy issues'. He often talks and argues with her as though she's there, before venturing out at night and invariably killing someone. Most of his victims are women, from various walks of life (e.g. nurse, prostitute, photographic model). After murdering them he scalps them and attaches the scalps to store mannequins in his apartment. The police have dubbed him the 'Maniac', and are warning people to be careful, But Frank keeps on killing...
Maniac is often called a slasher and a lot of the marketing leaned into that. For some reason it often gets compared to Halloween from two years earlier, but whereas Halloween is meant to be fun as you sit with your mates, eagerly anticipating the next kill, nudging each other in the ribs when it's coming - followed by a loud 'Yes!' when it happens, Maniac is a sleazy, gritty, psychological drama (albeit a very gory one) about a dysfunctional and increasingly unravelling Zodiac/Son of Sam type serial killer, that is intended to be a tough watch which leaves you feeling grubby afterwards. The practical gore effects (from Tom Savini, who also gets a cameo) are terrific for the time, and the film drips with the greasy, dirty feel of Taxi Driver, Driller Killer, or Don't Go in the House. It's occasionally a little slow (such as overlong footage of Frank's nocturnal wanderings around Times Square), and the ultra-low budget shows through here and there (although not as much as it could). But Spinell is superb as Frank, Hammer/Bond girl Caroline Munro is fine as a fashion photographer (that pot-bellied, sweaty Frank somehow hooks-up with!!), and the rest of the cast do fine in the small roles they have.
I can't honestly call it an enjoyable watch, but it is a riveting one. 7.5/10